元朝 Wang Xizhi Watching Geese, a handscroll ca. 1295
The Yuan Dynasty lasted from 1279 - 1368 CE and was ruled by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan. Its capital was Dadu, present-day Beijing. Throughout history, the Mongols were one of only two foreign groups to rule China. After establishing the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Kahn set his sights on the Song Dynasty. The Yuan people managed to conquer the Song in twenty years. A group of rebels, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, overthrew and ended the Yuan Dynasty. Kublai Khan (September 1215 - February 1294)was the leader of the Mongols, and subsequently, the ruler of the Yuan Dynasty. He was the grandson of Ghengis Khan, who originally conquered China. After Ghengis Khan's death, the throne was continually fought over. Kublai Khan was raised by his mother while his father was away in the military. His elder brother, Mongke, took the throne and after his death, Kublai and his younger brother Arigboge fought over the crown. Kublai beat Arigboge and soon became the Khan. His dynasty was successful for awhile, until his beloved wife and son died. From there, he became depressed and died in 1294 of natural causes. After his death, the economy and other aspects of life declined with the later emperors. Social: The four class system was created during the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongolian, Semu, Han and Song made up the four classes. Each class was treated differently in everyday life, even in the military. Many Chinese scholars opened private schools because they refused to teach in schools created by the government. Mongol rule did not stifle the growth and development of the Chinese. They thrived, and the Mongolians allowed them to continue with life as it had been. The Mongols tried to rule with Chinese traditions in mind. The spread of religion and ideas was encouraged by Kublai Khan. Political: "The whole period of Yuan Dynasty was a military occupation of China." While Kublai Khan was a Mongolian ruler and more barbaric in ways of life than the Chinese, he tried to incorporate Chinese culture as much as possible. However, the language barrier kept the Mongolian leader from ever truly making the Chinese a part of government. Mongols were put into high positions, and the natives were selected for lower positions. Translators were needed to communicate between the two groups. Chinese nobles were not allowed to be a part of the government. Kublai Khan had the interests of both his people and the conquered Chinese in mind, which brought him much criticism. A four class system was created: (highest to lowest)Mongols Semu - made up of allies and non-Chinese Han - northern Chinese Nan - southern Chinese Religion: Because of Kublai Khan's favorable view of Chinese culture, religion flourished. Shamanism and Totemism were the two main religions of the Mongolians, but Tibetan Buddhism became the main religion. Totemism: The beliefs of Totemism had two main "gods": the wolf and the deer. The deer was the grandmother and the wolf was the grandfather. Totemism affected the way the Mongolians hunted; if any deer or wolves were caught, they had to be released. Definition of Totemism Shamanism: Shamanism was based on a leader that had powers to heal the sick and communicate with the dead. "The followers of Shamanism believed in the existence of Jinn. Early in the period of the Mongolian tribes, Shamans were allowed to take part in the discussion of crucial issues, such as electing leaders and affairs of war and peace."Definition of Shamanism Tibetan Buddhism: Tibetan Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that incorporates the Tibetan belief of Bon and early Buddhism. The followers of this branch are more involved in religious activities in the community. There is emphasis on the reincarnation of the lamas, such as the Dalai Lama, and the psychic aspect of life. More about Tibetan Buddhism Buddhism was popular among the Mongolians. Taoism and Confucianism continued to change with the dynasty. The Mongolians disliked the literacy tests required for government, and abolished those.Neo-Confucianism emerged and was widely accepted by the ruling Mongols. No religion was made official or required by the government during the Yuan Dynasty. All religions, from Nestorian Christians to Catholics, were allowed to come into China and build temples and encourage the spread of religions. The Chinese religions remained mostly the same, even though there was a wealth of different religions populating the area. Intellectual: Many of the Chinese nobles undertook literature and many forms of art. Poetry was popular amongst the nobility, but remained unchanged for the most part. Theatre and opera became popular as well. Many wealthy families and even the emperor were fans of theatre. Educated citizens started writing operas, but they all used pseudonyms because writing operas was not looked upon with approval. Many of the operas were destroyed, but The Story of Lute, The Story of the Orphan of Chao, The Romance, and the Western Chamber are four remaining texts. Instruments were created and promoted. The Yuan Dynasty produced books about mathematics, geography, crops, medicine, and engineering. Although there was much success, outside cultures were an big influence. The Yuan improved upon many already existing ideas, especially from the Arabians. Numbers, medicines, and hospitals were created through a collaboration with Arabic peoples. Trade/Technology:During the Yuan Dynasty, there were severe trade restrictions and issues with money. Kublai spent money on agriculture, roads, silk, and a postal system, which significantly affected the availability of money. Peasants had to work on roads and other government projects, which led to uprisings from the poorer classes. Merchants were allowed to come in to trade, but Yuan merchants were not allowed to leave the country. Trade was limited to whoever came into the country. The Yuan Dynasty contributed to paper money, used magnetic compasses, guns and gunpowder. Porcelain was also invented and treasured by many non-Chinese cultures for its delicate nature and beauty. The first bronze guns originated in the early years of the Yuan. Paper money was common and used by all under Kubali Khan's rule. Economy The Mongols adopted the Tang system of two taxes. A poll tax combined with labor, real estate, and material taxes was in place for the north. The south, mostly peasants, was taxed twice a year. The Great Canal was worked on by the lower class, and money was poured into improving the country. All profit made by trade went into the possession of the elite, which upset the people. The currency of the Yuan dynasty experience inflation. The gap between the classes widened; the poor were even poorer and the richer had their money. Overall, the economy was failing for most of the dynasty. The Fall of the Yuan The economic problems and social issues that faced the Yuan rulers led to the fall of the empire. Too many public works and construction projects were sucking the money out of the economy. After the economy fell apart, the Mongols were divided by who liked Chinese ways of life and who opposed them. Fighting between the Mongols that wanted to rule and natural disasters only further weakened the dynasty's structure. The natives started to rebel. Zhu Yuanzhang, a rebel, overthrew the government in 1368 and established the Ming Dynasty, with the capital at Nanjing. Impact of the Yuan: "The Mongols managed to unite China for the first time in over 300 years. Although their period of control was brief and was marked by civil unrest and authoritarian misgovernment, the Yuan relaxed the rigorous Confucian hierarchy somewhat, which allowed a new upward mobility for a few in the lower class. In addition, their patronage of artisans and their support of popular culture ushered in a period of great achievement in literature, drama, and fine art." [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574741_2/Yuan_Dynasty.html] LINKS Kublai Khan Yuan Dynasty ArtMore about the Yuan Dynasty Nosotro, Rit. "Kublai Khan." 15 Apr. 2008. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b3khankublai.htm>. "Chinese history - The Yuan Dynasty ( AD 1271 - 1368 )." Chinavoc.com. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinavoc.com/history/yuan.htm>. "Chinese History -Yuan Dynasty." www.chinaknowledge.de. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Yuan/yuan.html>."The Mongolian Empire: The Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368." Ancient China. Washington State University. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHEMPIRE/YUAN.HTM>."Politics of Yuan Dynasty." History of China. 2007. 1 Feb. 2009 <http://www.history-of-china.com/yuan-dynasty/politics-of-yuan.html>.Rossabi, Morris. "Yuan Dynasty." 2008. MSN Encarta. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574741_2/Yuan_Dynasty.html>."Yuan Dynasty in Chinese History." 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dynastiesofasia.com/asian-history-references/yuan-dynasty-period-in-chinese-history.htm>."Yuan Dynasty." Minnesota State University Mankato. 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/later_imperial_china/yuan.html>.
元朝The Yuan Dynasty lasted from 1279 - 1368 CE and was ruled by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan. Its capital was Dadu, present-day Beijing. Throughout history, the Mongols were one of only two foreign groups to rule China. After establishing the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Kahn set his sights on the Song Dynasty. The Yuan people managed to conquer the Song in twenty years. A group of rebels, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, overthrew and ended the Yuan Dynasty.
Kublai Khan (September 1215 - February 1294) was the leader of the Mongols, and subsequently, the ruler of the Yuan Dynasty. He was the grandson of Ghengis Khan, who originally conquered China. After Ghengis Khan's death, the throne was continually fought over. Kublai Khan was raised by his mother while his father was away in the military. His elder brother, Mongke, took the throne and after his death, Kublai and his younger brother Arigboge fought over the crown. Kublai beat Arigboge and soon became the Khan. His dynasty was successful for awhile, until his beloved wife and son died. From there, he became depressed and died in 1294 of natural causes. After his death, the economy and other aspects of life declined with the later emperors.
Social:
The four class system was created during the Yuan Dynasty. The Mongolian, Semu, Han and Song made up the four classes. Each class was treated differently in everyday life, even in the military. Many Chinese scholars opened private schools because they refused to teach in schools created by the government. Mongol rule did not stifle the growth and development of the Chinese. They thrived, and the Mongolians allowed them to continue with life as it had been. The Mongols tried to rule with Chinese traditions in mind. The spread of religion and ideas was encouraged by Kublai Khan.
Political:
"The whole period of Yuan Dynasty was a military occupation of China." While Kublai Khan was a Mongolian ruler and more barbaric in ways of life than the Chinese, he tried to incorporate Chinese culture as much as possible. However, the language barrier kept the Mongolian leader from ever truly making the Chinese a part of government. Mongols were put into high positions, and the natives were selected for lower positions. Translators were needed to communicate between the two groups. Chinese nobles were not allowed to be a part of the government. Kublai Khan had the interests of both his people and the conquered Chinese in mind, which brought him much criticism. A four class system was created: (highest to lowest) Mongols
Semu - made up of allies and non-Chinese
Han - northern Chinese
Nan - southern Chinese
Religion:
Because of Kublai Khan's favorable view of Chinese culture, religion flourished. Shamanism and Totemism were the two main religions of the Mongolians, but Tibetan Buddhism became the main religion.
Totemism: The beliefs of Totemism had two main "gods": the wolf and the deer. The deer was the grandmother and the wolf was the grandfather. Totemism affected the way the Mongolians hunted; if any deer or wolves were caught, they had to be released. Definition of Totemism
Shamanism: Shamanism was based on a leader that had powers to heal the sick and communicate with the dead.
"The followers of Shamanism believed in the existence of Jinn. Early in the period of the Mongolian tribes, Shamans were allowed to take part in the discussion of crucial issues, such as electing leaders and affairs of war and peace." Definition of Shamanism
Tibetan Buddhism: Tibetan Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that incorporates the Tibetan belief of Bon and early Buddhism. The followers of this branch are more involved in religious activities in the community. There is emphasis on the reincarnation of the lamas, such as the Dalai Lama, and the psychic aspect of life. More about Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism was popular among the Mongolians. Taoism and Confucianism continued to change with the dynasty. The Mongolians disliked the literacy tests required for government, and abolished those.Neo-Confucianism emerged and was widely accepted by the ruling Mongols. No religion was made official or required by the government during the Yuan Dynasty. All religions, from Nestorian Christians to Catholics, were allowed to come into China and build temples and encourage the spread of religions. The Chinese religions remained mostly the same, even though there was a wealth of different religions populating the area.
Intellectual:
Many of the Chinese nobles undertook literature and many forms of art. Poetry was popular amongst the nobility, but remained unchanged for the most part. Theatre and opera became popular as well. Many wealthy families and even the emperor were fans of theatre. Educated citizens started writing operas, but they all used pseudonyms because writing operas was not looked upon with approval. Many of the operas were destroyed, but The Story of Lute, The Story of the Orphan of Chao, The Romance, and the Western Chamber are four remaining texts. Instruments were created and promoted. The Yuan Dynasty produced books about mathematics, geography, crops, medicine, and engineering. Although there was much success, outside cultures were an big influence. The Yuan improved upon many already existing ideas, especially from the Arabians. Numbers, medicines, and hospitals were created through a collaboration with Arabic peoples.
Trade/Technology:During the Yuan Dynasty, there were severe trade restrictions and issues with money. Kublai spent money on agriculture, roads, silk, and a postal system, which significantly affected the availability of money. Peasants had to work on roads and other government projects, which led to uprisings from the poorer classes. Merchants were allowed to come in to trade, but Yuan merchants were not allowed to leave the country. Trade was limited to whoever came into the country.
The Yuan Dynasty contributed to paper money, used magnetic compasses, guns and gunpowder. Porcelain was also invented and treasured by many non-Chinese cultures for its delicate nature and beauty. The first bronze guns originated in the early years of the Yuan. Paper money was common and used by all under Kubali Khan's rule.
Economy
The Mongols adopted the Tang system of two taxes. A poll tax combined with labor, real estate, and material taxes was in place for the north. The south, mostly peasants, was taxed twice a year. The Great Canal was worked on by the lower class, and money was poured into improving the country. All profit made by trade went into the possession of the elite, which upset the people. The currency of the Yuan dynasty experience inflation. The gap between the classes widened; the poor were even poorer and the richer had their money. Overall, the economy was failing for most of the dynasty.
The Fall of the Yuan
The economic problems and social issues that faced the Yuan rulers led to the fall of the empire. Too many public works and construction projects were sucking the money out of the economy. After the economy fell apart, the Mongols were divided by who liked Chinese ways of life and who opposed them. Fighting between the Mongols that wanted to rule and natural disasters only further weakened the dynasty's structure. The natives started to rebel. Zhu Yuanzhang, a rebel, overthrew the government in 1368 and established the Ming Dynasty, with the capital at Nanjing.
Impact of the Yuan:
"The Mongols managed to unite China for the first time in over 300 years. Although their period of control was brief and was marked by civil unrest and authoritarian misgovernment, the Yuan relaxed the rigorous Confucian hierarchy somewhat, which allowed a new upward mobility for a few in the lower class. In addition, their patronage of artisans and their support of popular culture ushered in a period of great achievement in literature, drama, and fine art."
[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574741_2/Yuan_Dynasty.html]
LINKS
Kublai Khan
Yuan Dynasty ArtMore about the Yuan Dynasty
Nosotro, Rit. "Kublai Khan." 15 Apr. 2008. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b3khankublai.htm>.
"Chinese history - The Yuan Dynasty ( AD 1271 - 1368 )." Chinavoc.com. 02 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinavoc.com/history/yuan.htm>.
"Chinese History -Yuan Dynasty." www.chinaknowledge.de. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Yuan/yuan.html>."The Mongolian Empire: The Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368." Ancient China. Washington State University. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/CHEMPIRE/YUAN.HTM>."Politics of Yuan Dynasty." History of China. 2007. 1 Feb. 2009 <http://www.history-of-china.com/yuan-dynasty/politics-of-yuan.html>.Rossabi, Morris. "Yuan Dynasty." 2008. MSN Encarta. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574741_2/Yuan_Dynasty.html>."Yuan Dynasty in Chinese History." 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dynastiesofasia.com/asian-history-references/yuan-dynasty-period-in-chinese-history.htm>."Yuan Dynasty." Minnesota State University Mankato. 2 Feb. 2009 <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/later_imperial_china/yuan.html>.